For some this may be a touchy subject. For others it is yet another way in which the progressive community can help.
Many of us are sitting at our keyboards wondering what more we can do to help the people who have been crushed by Katrina. I know that I am looking for ways to help. Since I haven't seen anything regarding this topic and having searched the Kos diaries and not found anything directly related to helping women facing a horrible decision, I offer this.
I received this e-mail a few days ago
Only a few days after the hurricane hit, clinics in the surrounding
area were getting calls from women who had evacuated their homes and
needed abortions. Many abortion clinics in cities and states
surrounding the devastated area are offering to provide free
abortions for women who can produce ID proving that they are
residents of affected areas. Up-to-date information is posted at
Abortion Clinics On-Line,
http://www.gynpages.com (see below)
NNAF has established an emergency fund for abortion care for women
and girls affected by the hurricane. Our national casemanager, Lynn
Jackson, will coordinate this funding for women affected. Lynn will
take calls from the women needing help, from member funds, and from
clinics working to help women from the hurricane region. WRRAP has
also set up a special fund to assist women affected by the hurricane.
Together, the Network and member funds will work to help as many
women and girls as possible.
We believe that the abortion funding needs of women and girls from
the hurricane region will grow substantially over the next weeks and
months. Many women may have to delay their abortions as they deal
with other survival issues and will likely seek second-trimester
abortions that require increased funding.
To contact Lynn, please call her cell phone at: 850-591-1014.
If you know people interested in making a donation to help with this
effort, tax-deductible donations for abortion care for hurricane
victims can be sent to NNAF at the following address. Please earmark
gifts: Hurricane Victims Abortion Fund.
NNAF
42 Seaverns Avenue
Boston, MA 02130
Donations can also be made online at http://www.nnaf.org by clicking
on the "donate now" button. Please specify that donations are for
hurricane victims. Donors can also call the NNAF office for more
information at: 617-524-6040.
NNAF is also working to put together a list of additional resources
for women from the hurricane states -- including resources for sexual
assault survivors, as well as resources in terms of housing and food,
etc.
We understand that women are really scrambling to get both abortion
and contraceptive services (in addition to help dealing with sexual
assault). Also, all of the states in the region have a 24 hour
waiting period, causing another huge problem for women who have no
place to "wait."
If any funds have additional information about clinics in the
affected states, or about where women are going for help once leaving
the hurricane states, please let NNAF know at spoggi@nnaf.org. Also,
if your fund is able to negotiate lower-fee procedures for Katrina
refugees from clinics you're working with, that information will also
be helpful.
SPECIAL HURRICANE VICTIM NOTICES (updated 9/6 at 11 am) go to
http://www.gynpages.com for links and latest info:
As far as we know all New Orleans clinics are CLOSED
Jackson Women's Health Organization in Jackson MS is OPEN. Help is
needed. Call 800-532-5383.
FREE abortions for hurricane victims available in Little Rock at
Little Rock Family Planning Services 800-272-2183.
FREE abortions for hurricane victims at Fayetteville Women's Clinic
in Fayetteville AK 479-442-8166
Hope Medical Group in Shreveport, Louisiana is OPEN. Call 800-448-5004
Bossier City Medical Suite in Bossier City Louisiana is OPEN. Call
800-749-7267
Delta Women's Clinic in Baton Rouge is OPEN. Call 225-923-3242.
Alabama clinics are OPEN
Center for Choice in Mobile is OPEN. Call 251-476-2404.
Some Texas clinics are offering FREE abortions.
Beaumont Texas Whole Woman's Health is offering FREE abortions,
emergency contraception, birth control and other GYN services.
Fund for Hurricane Victims is available at the Women's Reproductive
Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP) 323-223-7727
National Network of Abortion Funds. Call 617-524-6040
National Abortion Federation Hotline 800-772-9100
Planned Parenthood of Houston & SE Texas offering FREE Emergency
Contraception and Birth Control
For those of us who are watching the possibility of freedom of choice being submerged by a new court, here is a way we can do something at least today for many who may never have thought they would have to contemplate such a difficult situation.
Obviously, I have no control over whether this gets recommended or not, but should it be placed on the recommended list, a good deal of money could be raised to help these desperate women.